Apparatus for Gripping Hair and Use Thereof

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a gripping apparatus for use by a user to immobilize hair strands associated with tangled hair in order to decrease damage to the hair strands when detangling. The apparatus includes a first jaw rotatably connected to a second jaw. The first and second jaws have first and second plates, respectively, to engage the tangled hair. The first and second plates include ridges, that also define grooves, to increase the surface area of the plates. The first and second jaws can be rotated between an open position to receive hair strands and a closed position to immobilize hair strands. The ridges on the first jaw are offset from those on the second jaw so that, in the closed position, the ridges on the first jaw are received in the grooves of the second jaw and the ridges on the second jaw are received in the grooves of the first jaw.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a hair gripping apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for gripping hair by applying pressure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While people with many different hair types can experience tangled hair, this problem is especially frustrating for those with long and/or curly hair. Tangles are not only difficult and painful to get out, but the process can be damaging to hair and time-consuming.

In the prior art, hair combs have traditionally been used to detangle hair. However, the use of combs may also be associated with pain and/or hair loss due to tangled hair being tugged away from the scalp during brushing. This may also cause damage to the hair, including tearing.

In the prior art, hair brushes have also traditionally been used to detangle hair. However, it has been reported that brushes can be inconvenient as they must be used frequently throughout the day to maintain hair in a detangled state. In addition, as with combs, frequent brushing can damage the hair and cause pain and/or hair loss due to tangled hair being pulled away from the scalp.

Products in the form of sprays and creams are also available as prior art attempts to detangle hair. These products, however, may be considered inconvenient as the containers are typically bulky and usually require hair to be wet upon application.

Prior art attempts to reduce hair damage, hair loss and pain from hair being pulled away from the scalp during the use of a comb and/or brushing may have included the use of hands or fingers to transfer stress on the hair during combing and/or brushing away from the scalp. Such prior art attempts, however, may have been limited by slippery hair (e.g., due to dampness or the presence of hair product) as well as conditions that may limit manual dexterity and/or grip strength (e.g., arthritis). In addition, hands are soft, have kinks, grooves and curves, and instead of holding the hair flat, tend to bunch up the hair, which may cause difficulty generating an even grip on the hair. The result is that no matter how hard the hair is squeezed, there will always be pulling at the scalp. Moreover, the oil from hands may adhere to the hair, potentially transferring oils on the hand the hair leading to oily and/or greasy hair. In addition, hair grippers of the prior art (e.g., TRUBARBER™) are used to hold hair in place without the use of hands in order to facilitate hair cuts and may not be useful for detangling hair. Hair clamps of the prior art (e.g., PuffCuff™) are used for maintaining hair styles and may not be useful for detangling hair.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved hair detangling solution. What may be needed is an apparatus and/or method that overcomes one or more of the limitations associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a gripping apparatus for use by a user to immobilize hair strands associated with tangled hair in order to decrease damage to the hair strands when detangling the tangled hair. The apparatus includes a first jaw having a first plate adapted to engage the tangled hair. The first plate has one or more first ridges. The one or more first ridges define one or more first grooves, to increase the surface area of the first plate in engagement with the hair strands. The apparatus further includes a second jaw, rotatably connected to the first jaw. The second jaw has a second plate adapted to engage the tangled hair. The second plate includes one or more second ridges. The one or more second ridges define one or more second grooves, to increase the surface area of the second plate in engagement with the hair strands. The first jaw and the second jaw are rotatable between an open position for receiving hair strands and a closed position for immobilizing hair strands. The first and second ridges are adapted to be received within the second and first grooves, respectively, when the first jaw and the second jaw are in the closed position.

In an additional feature, the apparatus further includes a pivot coupled to the first and second jaw for rotating the first jaw and/or the second jaw about a pivot axis between the open position and the closed position. In a further feature, the pivot includes a resilient member adapted to urge the first jaw and the second jaw to the open position. Optionally, the resilient member is a torsion spring.

In another feature, the apparatus further includes a releasable ratchet.

In yet another feature, the apparatus further includes four first ridges and four second ridges.

In still another feature, the first jaw and the second jaw includes a first gripping element and a second gripping element, respectively, to facilitate manipulation of the apparatus by the user. The first and second gripping elements include one or more ridges. The one or more ridges define one or more grooves, for increasing the surface area of the first and second gripping elements in contact with the user.

According to a further embodiment, there is also provided a method of immobilizing hair strands associated with tangled hair by a user, using a gripping apparatus, in order to decrease damage to the hair strands when detangling the tangled air. The method includes: rotating a first jaw and a second jaw of the apparatus to an open position to receive the hair strands, the first jaw and the second jaw comprising a first plate and a second plate, respectively, for engaging the tangled hair; and rotating the first jaw and the second jaw, about a pivot axis, to a closed position to immobilize the hair strands. The e first plate includes one or more first ridges. The one or more first ridges define one or more first grooves, to increase the surface area of the first plate in engagement with the hair strands. The second plate includes one or more second ridges. The one or more second ridges define one or more second grooves, to increase the surface area of the second plate in engagement with the hair strands. The first and second ridges are adapted to be received within the second and first grooves, respectively, when the first jaw and the second jaw are in the closed position.

Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the apparatus and method, and the combination of steps, parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which are briefly described herein below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the apparatus and method according to the present invention, as to their structure, organization, use, and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which presently preferred embodiments of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for gripping hair in the open position;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a front view and a rear view, respectively, of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a top view and a bottom view, respectively, of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus in the closed position;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are a front view and a rear view, respectively, of the apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are a left side view and a right side view, respectively, of the apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are a top view and a bottom view, respectively, of the apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged front cross-sectional view along cross-section line A-A as shown in FIG. 9A; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the ridges and the grooves in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The description that follows, and the embodiments described therein, is provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples, of particular embodiments of the principles of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not of limitation, of those principles and of the invention. In the description, like parts are marked throughout the specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals. The figures are not to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular elements while related elements may have been eliminated to prevent obscuring novel aspects. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

As used herein, a person skilled in the relevant art may generally understand the term “comprising” to generally mean the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, or components as referred to in the claims, but that it does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 through FIG. 11 illustrate embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment of the hair clamp 10 according to the present invention. The hair clamp 10 includes two jaws, a first jaw 20 and a second jaw 30. Each jaw 20, 30 comprises a plate 22, 32. The first plate 22 is associated with the first jaw 20 and the second plate 32 is associated with the second jaw 30. The plates 22, 32 are preferably positioned at a front end of the jaws 20, 30 and rotatably connected at a rear end.

During operation of the hair clamp 10, hair is preferably clamped perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 12 of the claim 10 (as shown in FIG. 9B) and at a position between the tangled portion of the hair strands and the scalp by squeezing or pressing the hair strands between the two plates 22, 32. The clamp 10 preferably includes a pivot 40 coupled to the first jaw 20 and the second jaw 30 to facilitate opening and closing of the plates 22, 32 for receiving and engaging the hair strands respectively. The pivot 40 is preferably positioned at a rear end of the two jaws 20, 30 at a predetermined distance away from the plates 22, 32. The pivot 40 allows a user to rotate, pivot or swivel at least one of the jaws 20, 30 about a pivot axis 42. In this way, the jaws 20, 30 can swivel or rotate between an open and a closed position such that the first plate 22 contacts the second plate 32 in the closed position. FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3, 4, 5A, and 5B illustrate the open position of the hair clamp 10. FIGS. 6, 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 9A and 9B illustrate the closed position of the hair clamp 10.

In preferable embodiments, the pivot 40 is associated with a resilient member 44 having a first end 44 a connected to the first jaw 20 and a second end 44 b connected to the second jaw 30 as best depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The resilient member 44 is preferably adapted to apply a force (or torque) to the jaws 20, 30 such that the hair clamp 10 is biased or urged to the open position to allow hair to more easily disengage from the clamp 10.

As used herein, a person skilled in the relevant art would understand that a “resilient member” may comprise one or more of any of the following elastic, pneumatic, gas spring, constant force spring motor, or other device adapted to store or exert mechanical energy and/or generate force. In a preferred embodiment, a resilient member may comprise a spring and in a more preferred embodiment, may comprise a torsion spring.

In alternate embodiments the clamp 10 includes a releasable ratchet (not shown) adapted to cooperate with the resilient member to maintain the clamp 10 in the closed position during engagement of the hair strands and to return the claim to the open position when the hair strands have been detangled or as desired by the user. The releasable ratchet preferably facilitates gripping of the hair strands by the clamp 10 in the closed position with reduced effort by the user.

In a preferred embodiment, the first plate 22 comprises one or more first ridges 24 (alternatively, one or more first raised portions 24) alternating with one or more first grooves 25 (alternatively, one or more first furrows 25). Each first ridge 24 preferably includes a raised band running across a surface of the plate 22 and each first groove 25 preferably includes a trough immediately adjacent to the first ridge 24. Each first ridge 24 and first groove 25 are preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis 12. In preferred embodiments, the alternating ridges 24 and grooves 25 create a corrugated or crenulated formation to increase the surface area of the plate 22 in contact with the hair strands. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that increasing the surface area of the plate 22 increases the ability of the clamp 10 to hold hair strands in place during the detangling process. In preferred embodiments, the first ridges 24 and first grooves 25 are evenly spaced. As shown in FIG. 2, the plate 22 preferably comprises four evenly spaced first ridges 24 alternating with four evenly spaced first grooves 25 along the longitudinal axis 12. Persons skilled in the art, however, will appreciate that alternate embodiments may comprise more or less than four first ridges 24 and/or more or less than four first grooves 25.

In a preferable embodiment, the second plate 32 comprises one or more second ridges 34 (alternatively, one or more second raised portions 34), alternating with one or more second grooves 35 (alternatively, one or more second furrows 35). Each second ridge 34 preferably includes a raised band running across a surface of the plate 32 and each second groove 35 preferably includes a trough immediately adjacent to the second ridge 34. Each second ridge 34 and second groove 35 are preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis 12. In preferred embodiments, the alternating ridges 34 and grooves 35 create a corrugated or crenulated formation to increase the surface area of the plate 34 in contact with the hair. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that increasing the surface area of the plate 32 increases the ability of the clamp 10 to hold hair strands in place during the detangling process. In preferred embodiments, the second ridges 34 and second grooves 35 are evenly spaced and positioned to be offset from the first ridges 24 and first grooves 25, as best depicted in FIG. 10. Preferably, when the clamp 10 is in the closed position, the first ridges 24 are aligned to be received within the second grooves 35 and the second ridges 34 are aligned to be received within the first grooves 25 as shown in FIGS. 7A and 10. As shown in FIG. 10, the plate 32 preferably comprises four evenly spaced second ridges 34 alternating with four evenly spaced second grooves 35 along the longitudinal axis 12. Persons skilled in the art, however, will appreciate that alternate embodiments may comprise more or less than four second ridges 34 and/or more or less than four second grooves 35.

As best depicted in FIG. 10, viewed along the longitudinal axis (not shown), the ridges 24, 34 and the grooves 25, 35 are trapezoidal in shape and complementary such that the ridges 24, 34 can be received by the grooves 25, 35. As shown in FIG. 11, the dimensions of the ridges 24, 34 are defined by a height H_(RG), a top width W_(RT) and a bottom width W_(RB). The dimensions of the grooves 25, 35 are also defined by the height H_(RG) and a width W_(G). Preferably, the top width of the ridges W_(RT) is less than the width of the grooves W_(G) in order for the ridges 24, 34 to be received within the grooves 25, 35 and to define a cavity C for receiving the hair strands. Preferably, the height of the ridges and the grooves, H_(RG), are the same or substantially the same to engage or clamp the hair strands. Persons skilled in the art will understand that while the ridges 24, 34 and the grooves 25, 35 may have other shapes (e.g., rectangular, rounded, etc.), the top width W_(RT) and the bottom width W_(RB) of the ridges 24, 34 must be less than the width of the grooves 25, 35 so that the ridges 24, 34 may be received within the grooves 25, 35 and to maintain the cavity C. In preferable embodiments, H_(RG), W_(RT), W_(RB) and W_(G) are less than about 0.2 inches, 0.15 inches, 0.17 inches and 0.25 inches respectively and most preferably about 0.177 inches, 0.144 inches, 0.171 inches and 0.221 inches respectively.

In a preferred embodiment, an outer surface of the first jaw 20 and the second jaw 30 comprise a first gripping element 26 and a second gripping element 36, respectively, to enhance the ability of a user to hold and/or manipulate the hair clamp 10 during use as best shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 9A and 9B. Preferably, the first and second gripping elements 26, 36 comprise one or more alternating raised and lowered portions running parallel to the longitudinal axis 12 across the outer surface including, but not limited to ridges and/or raised bands alternating with furrows and/or grooves, such as for example, a corrugated surface. The gripping elements 26, 36 preferably comprise a material that provides a high coefficient of friction or non-slip surface including, but not limited to rubber, textured plastics, and polymer composites. In an embodiment, only the first jaw 20 comprises the gripping element 26 or only the second jaw 30 comprises the gripping element 36. In an alternate embodiment the gripping element 26, 36 is integral with the outer surface of the respective jaw 20, 30.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the first jaw 20 and/or the second jaw 30 comprises a display panel 50 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2B, 5A, 5B, 6, 9A and 9B. In an embodiment, the display panel 50 may be adapted to comprise a decal, text, or an image. In other embodiments, the display panel 50 may comprise a graphical user interface to depict multiple images, text, video, and/or to facilitate interaction of the clamp 10 by the user.

The strands of hair containing the tangles are pinched or clamped between the plates 22, 32 for reversible gripping. Preferably, hair strands containing the tangles are received by the clamp 10 at a point along the hair strands that is between the position of the tangled hairs and the scalp (or hair root) in the open position. The user preferably pivots or rotates the jaws 20, 30 to the closed position to engage the hair strands. In preferred embodiments, the application of pressure by the user and/or the releasable ratchet holds the hair strands in place to transfer the stress from detangling the tangled hair using a comb, brush or other instrument from the scalp (or hair root) to the clamp 10. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the stress transfer from the scalp will reduce pain and/or damage to the hair due to the detangling process and that the clamp 10 is adapted for use with dry and/or wet hair. The main parameters influencing hair gripping performance include: the coefficient of friction provided by the plates 22, 32 to reduce movement of hair strands during the detangling process; the number of ridges 24, 34 and grooves 25, 35 to increase the potential for engagement of the hair strands by the clamp 10 by increasing the surface area of the plates 22, 32; the physical dimensions of the ridges 24, 34 and/or grooves 25, 35 (i.e., deep and/or broad ridges may improve gripping performance by increasing the surface are of the plates 22, 32 in contact with the hair strands compared to shallow and/or thin ridges); and/or the pressure applied by the user when the clamp 10 is in the closed position (i.e., increasing pressure may facilitate gripping of the hair strands). Preferably, the clamp 10 of the present invention creates a strong locking group to minimize pulling of the hair strands from the hair root to reduce pain and/or damage, and holds the hair strands flat to facilitate detangling using a comb and/or a brush.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the plates 22, 32 including the ridges 24, 34 and/or grooves 25, 35 may be constructed from material including synthetic or semi-synthetic organic compounds such as plastics and thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) in particular including styrenic block copolymers, thermoplastic polyolefinelastomers, thermoplastic vulcanizates, thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic copolyester, and/or thermoplastic polyamides.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first jaw 20 and the second jaw 30 are rounded at the front end of the jaws 20, 30 to facilitate the receipt of tangled hair and to minimize potential for injury to the user from square or sharp edges.

In a preferred embodiment, the clamp 10 is portable and constructed from light weight material(s), including synthetic or semi-synthetic organic compounds such as plastics and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) in particular. Preferably, the clamp 10 is less than, for example, about 10 ounces or 0.142 kgs in weight.

In a preferred embodiment, the clamp 10 is about 6 inches in length, 1.5 inches in width, and 1 5/16 inches in height.

This concludes the description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention. The foregoing description has been presented for the purpose of illustration and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Other modifications, variations and alterations are possible in light of the above teaching and will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and may be used in the design and manufacture of other embodiments according to the present invention without departing form the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended the scope of the invention be limited not by this description but only by the claims forming a part hereof. 

1. A gripping apparatus for use by a user to immobilize hair strands associated with tangled hair in order to decrease damage to the hair strands when detangling the tangled hair, the apparatus comprising: a first jaw having a first plate adapted to engage the tangled hair, the first plate comprising one or more first ridges, the one or more first ridges defining one or more first grooves, to increase the surface area of the first plate in engagement with the hair strands; and a second jaw, rotatably connected to the first jaw, having a second plate adapted to engage the tangled hair, the second plate comprising one or more second ridges, the one or more second ridges defining one or more second grooves, to increase the surface area of the second plate in engagement with the hair strands; wherein, the first jaw and the second jaw are rotatable between an open position for receiving hair strands and a closed position for immobilizing hair strands; and wherein, the first and second ridges are adapted to be received within the second and first grooves, respectively, when the first jaw and the second jaw are in the closed position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pivot coupled to the first and second jaw for rotating the first jaw and/or the second jaw about a pivot axis between the open position and the closed position.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a releasable ratchet.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising four first ridges and four second ridges.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pivot comprises a resilient member adapted to urge the first jaw and the second jaw to the open position.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the resilient member is a torsion spring.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw comprise a first gripping element and a second gripping element, respectively, to facilitate manipulation of the apparatus by the user.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first and second gripping elements comprise one or more ridges, the one or more ridges defining one or more grooves, for increasing the surface area of the first and second gripping elements in contact with the user.
 9. A method of immobilizing hair strands associated with tangled hair by a user, using a gripping apparatus, in order to decrease damage to the hair strands when detangling the tangled air, the method comprising: rotating a first jaw and a second jaw of the apparatus to an open position to receive the hair strands, the first jaw and the second jaw comprising a first plate and a second plate, respectively, for engaging the tangled hair; and rotating the first jaw and the second jaw, about a pivot axis, to a closed position to immobilize the hair strands; wherein, the first plate comprises one or more first ridges, the one or more first ridges defining one or more first grooves, to increase the surface area of the first plate in engagement with the hair strands; wherein, the second plate comprises one or more second ridges, the one or more second ridges define one or more second grooves, to increase the surface area of the second plate in engagement with the hair strands; and wherein, the first and second ridges are adapted to be received within the second and first grooves, respectively, when the first jaw and the second jaw are in the closed position.
 10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising four first ridges and four second ridges.
 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus further comprises a pivot to rotate the first jaw and the second jaw between the open position and the closed position.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the pivot further comprises resilient member adapted to urge the first jaw and the second jaw to the open position.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the resilient member is a torsion spring.
 14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw further comprise a first gripping element and a second gripping element, respectively, to facilitate manipulation of the apparatus by the user.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first and second gripping elements comprise one or more ridges, the one or more ridges defining one or more grooves, for increasing the surface area of the first and second gripping elements in contact with the user. 